Sinus Issues Caused By Gluten - Help !

[NorthernElf]

One of my first (and most persistent) symptoms from gluten involves intense sinus headaches with eye pain - headaches tylenol barely touches. Does anyone else out there have similar symptoms ?!?!? I also get stomach aches and joint aches and fatigue, etc.

Anyway, if you have such symptoms, do you take anything to alleviate them ?? I was wondering if antihistamines would be helpful or not. Ibuprofen helps the headaches, but affects my gut so I try to avoid that too.

The other issues that seems tied to this is that I get sinus infections - never had these ever before gluten became a problem. I'm thinking that gluten sinus inflammation leads me vulnerable to infection when a cold comes. The doctor mentioned allergies as a possibility too - anyone out there with allergies as well ??? I guess I"m a little freaked because the pencillin I took for 5 days did nothing, so now I'm on a more potent antibiotic - I've been sick for a month.

And yeah, misery loves company....and helpful tips !

TIA.

[buffettbride]

Before my DD was dx, she had sinus troubles the whole time. One of her biggest symptoms actually. Her throat was red and sore and it hurt behind her eyes a lot. Not much helped. Like you said, Tylenol hardly touched it. Had to give her a decongestant + ibuprofin for any relief.

The doc never saw any real infection, just irritation. She did give some nasal spray to use. I remember DD being stuffy much of the time until she went gluten-free. We thought it was seasonal allergies.

I don't really have an answer to help you feel better. The most therapeutic relief DD ever got were those tablets you can by that release "menthol" in a hot shower. Just seemed to help things drain and soothe more than anything else.

Hope you get to feeling better soon.

[hathor]

Have you tried going casein-free? Many gluten-intolerant folk seem to have problems with casein as well.

Actually, I realized my dairy problems some years before my gluten difficulty. I used to have several sinus infections each year. I gave up dairy seven years ago and haven't had another one.

I've heard plenty of people report here that dairy gives them sinus problems. You can google on the subject and find this link reported quite a bit.

That said, I did notice that my still somewhat drippy nose cleared up when I went off gluten. And if I acccidentally have some, my first reaction is commonly a sinus headache, drippiness & wierd sneezing fits.

What really works for me is Exhedrin. The combination of ingredients seems to work better than anything else I've tried. Ibuprofen doesn't work very well for these sorts of headaches, at least for me.

When you take the ibuprofen, which apparently does work for you, do you take it with food? I've had a couple times I've had to take steady & heavy doses of ibuprofen for weeks (under medical supervision). It really hurt my stomach unless I took it with food.

[binky1246]

Along with gluten, I am allergic to brewer's yeast. On the occasion I do drink, I always have plugged sinuses the next day. I also have the joint pain. I take 1 Allegra-d and 4 advil. It clears it up pretty quickly. In case you are wondering, my wife was told that taking 4 advil is ok once in a while(pms).

Since I found out about all of food allergies, I don't have any sinus issues.

[dangervolvo]

I have exactly the same issues and am actually so glad to hear that someone else deals with those awful headaches that pain relievers don't help (misery does love company).

I have found that just plain non-drowsy Sudafed (the kind without ephedrine) does help the pain. I do try not to take it just before bed because I have had nightmares from it. (Sudafed is gluten-free)

I also just went to my Naturopath on Monday and talked to him about this very issue, and he suspects allergies in me too. He told me to try Naselcrom, which is a nasel spray with just an antihistimine and no steroids, so it does not cause any of those bad issues that other sprays cause. It also does not make you drowsy or foggy and it is also safe to use for weeks at a time. You can get it at any drugstore. But, talk to your doc, because it does say to avoid using it when you have an active sinus infection.

I have been using it twice a day since Monday, and think I am starting to feel a change. I can't say yet that I think it has fixed my sinus issues, but I think it is worth a shot.

Hope this helps,

-Sarah

[Di-gfree]

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[Joni63]

I was on Nasonex and Clarinex for sinus problems and have had them all my life, until I went gluten free. I've only had to take them a couple times since going gluten-free and this is usually the worst time of year for me. It's so nice to be able to breathe clearly.

I got glutened a week ago and imediately got a stuffy nose and itchy throat (about 20 minutes) I've have had to take my medicines twice since then, but it did clear up my sinuses pretty quickly.

Try sudafed. That is what I used before I got my prescriptions and it worked pretty well.

[hathor]

Along with gluten, I am allergic to brewer's yeast. On the occasion I do drink, I always have plugged sinuses the next day. I also have the joint pain. I take 1 Allegra-d and 4 advil. It clears it up pretty quickly. In case you are wondering, my wife was told that taking 4 advil is ok once in a while(pms).

Since I found out about all of food allergies, I don't have any sinus issues.

Oh dear. Doesn't the yeast get filtered out of the final product? When Enterolab said I was intolerant to yeast, I was told to avoid things with "yeast" listed in the ingredients. At least for wine, my research said that yeast doesn't end up in the final product and allergic reactions are rare. But is it different for beer?

Do you have any other symptoms when you have yeast? I've never been able to tie any symptoms to having something with or made with yeast. But I haven't cut out wine and the occasional Redbridge. I've even started having yeasted breads since I don't notice anything. But if yeast does get through to the final wine product, I may have to ... oh, no, I can't consider this.

I always though my occasional morning after stuffiness was due to my reaction to the fining agents used. Unless it is a vegan wine, it can have casein, egg, or fish protein in the final product.

[Rick45]

I spent a life time pop-in sinus medicine, taking antibiotics, doctors said I have allergies. I would buy the sinus medicine on sale and stock up, the people at the stores thought I was making something illegal, *%#!-Them. Now that I'm Gluten free I can breath through my nose and no sinus pain , migraine or allergies. If I get gluten-ed The pain returns and I get a sinus infection. Then I use Fonase and Tylenol Sinus Congestion & Pain Severe, I think its gluten free. It has Acetaminophen, Phenylephrine HCI, and Guaifenesin. The Guaifenesin is a expectorant and seams to help me the most. My sister uses Musinex with good success. A hot steamy shower can also help sometimes. or a sinus saline flush kit.

[mleeanne]

I just recently started living gluten free but I have the same problem with eye pain and sinuses. I take an anti-histimine that also doubles as an anti anxiety pill. It goes under several names such as hydroxyzine, visteral, or atarax and it also seems to help with the dermatitis symptoms that are common with celiac.

For the eyes, I buy clear eyes eyes specifically for allergies (they work faster and better than visine A.C. seemed to)and when my eyes get really bad I put SEVERAL drops in each and breathe in deeply while tilting my head side to side and opening and shutting my eyes (if I do this as soon as I use the drops it completely coats my eyes) and the eye drops also seem to help clear my sinuses a little when combined with the hydroxyzine.

The only time I ever took anti biotics for sinuses made it even worse and more frequent. Using saline nose drops works well for clearing and prevention of sinuses. I never use anti biotics even when the doc tells me to because I always seem to get even sicker. Try this website out. I didn't read the whole article but it might help a little.

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